Hoang Quoc Cong Dao Duy Tu

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - During his 8 years as an advisor to the Nguyen lords in Dang Trong, Dao Duy Tu was a brilliant general, scholar, politician, strategist, architect, engineer... and also played a crucial role in shaping the state, geography, and identity of Dang Trong.

Duke Hoang Quoc Dao Duy Tu is worshipped with solemn incense offerings. Photo: Kieu Huyen

Finding a path to career advancement

According to historical records, Dao Duy Tu (1572-1634) was born in Hoa Trai village, Van Trai commune, Ngoc Son district, Tinh Gia prefecture (now Nguyen Binh ward, Nghi Son town).

He lived during the period of the North-South Dynasties (the North Dynasty referred to the time when the Mạc Dynasty ruled Thăng Long, while the South Dynasty referred to the time when the Later Lê Dynasty began its restoration and governed the land from Thanh Hóa and Nghệ An southward). At that time, Nguyễn Hoàng, the second son of Nguyễn Kim and brother-in-law of Trịnh Kiểm, grasped the situation. On one hand, he sent his subordinates to seek guidance from Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm, receiving the prophecy, "The Hoành Sơn mountain range is a place where one can find refuge for generations." On the other hand, he asked his sister to arrange for him to be appointed governor of Thuận Hóa (the area from Quảng Bình to Thừa Thiên Huế today). Later, he was also appointed governor of Quảng Nam.

At the age of 34, Nguyen Hoang was the governor of Thuan Hoa province, but with his noble family background, virtue, and talent, he always used kindness to educate and tolerant policies to govern, so more and more people flocked to this land.

In 1613, Lord Nguyen Hoang passed away, and Nguyen Phuc Nguyen (1563-1635), his sixth son, succeeded him at the age of 51. He was a virtuous, talented, and humble man, revered by the people as Lord Sai, Lord But. He was "the one who created an independent and self-governing Dang Trong, with innovative organizational models and governing policies different from Dang Ngoai" (Cultural Figure Dao Duy Tu, Nguyen Thi Oanh - Hoang Khoi, Thanh Hoa Publishing House, 2024).

Born into a family with a tradition of singing and dancing, and with a passion for reading, Dao Duy Tu possessed a profound understanding of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. At the age of 14, he entered the school of the scholar Nguyen Duc Khoa and was highly praised by his teacher for his extensive knowledge and broad understanding, who also predicted that he would achieve success in his future career.

Compared to the scholars of that time who only studied for examinations, using literature to "enjoy the wind and ride the moon," and neglecting state affairs while only pursuing pleasures in peaceful surroundings, Dao Duy Tu emphasized the doctrine of the three elements (heaven, earth, and man), and focused on "the aspirations of a man." However, with his background as the son of a singer, even though he was "a brilliant and intelligent person, well-read in classical literature, skilled in literature, and very good at the study of symbolism and mathematics," "when he took the provincial examination in the Le dynasty, the examiners, seeing that he was the son of a singer, disqualified him" (according to Dai Nam Liet Truyen Tien Bien).

Thus, the path of fulfilling his ambition to serve the country and the people through examinations to become an official, as pursued by Dao Duy Tu in Northern Vietnam, came to an end when he could only join the army or teach. Given this situation, Dao Duy Tu's decision to leave the North and go to the South to seek advancement and establish a career "was one of the inevitable paths for a scholar and suited to his circumstances."

He became a renowned official under the Nguyen lords.

When Dao Duy Tu went south, his desire was to find a "new land," a "promised land," and above all, to meet a "true lord" to serve. The opportunity to meet Lord Nguyen was very difficult for Dao Duy Tu because he had no fame or achievements to his name.

According to many records, during this period he had to work as a hired laborer and herd buffalo before being discovered and recommended by the magistrate Tran Dac Hoa ... "At my residence, there is a scholar who, in his leisure time, composed the poem 'Ngoa Long Cuong Van'... The poem has an elegant style, its words are patriotic and helpful, and it has profound meaning. I beg Your Majesty to review it and see if it is good or bad." King Nguyen Phuc Nguyen saw that he "had the talent to part the clouds and dispel the mist, and possessed the skills to quell rebellion and establish order," and arranged a meeting.

The meeting between Lord Phúc Nguyên and Đào Duy Từ was both a matter of fate and a matter of human destiny, "both sides found it to be of one mind" (Phủ biên tạp lục, Lê Quý Đôn). Without Lord Nguyễn Phúc Nguyên, Đào Duy Từ's life might have taken a different turn; and without Đào Duy Từ, could the Southern Kingdom have built a lasting dynasty?

During his eight years serving the lord, Dao Duy Tu achieved many accomplishments. Among the strategies Dao Duy Tu devised was the "perfect plan" to build the Truong Duc and Dong Hai ramparts to repel the Trinh army, preserving the territorial integrity and firmly protecting Dang Trong.

Lord Sai was so well aware of Dao Duy Tu's role that he once exclaimed: "Duy Tu is truly the modern-day Zi Fang and Kong Ming"; "I have met a wise and virtuous man." Therefore, Dao Duy Tu was considered the Lord's teacher and later revered as the First Founding Hero of the Nguyen Dynasty. The name "Teacher's Fortress" was also given by Lord Nguyen and the people to show their respect and admiration for Dao Duy Tu, the Lord's teacher and the chief engineer of the fortifications in Quang Binh.

Born in a land blessed with favorable soil and auspicious energy, alongside a long coastline and numerous hills creating a semi-mountainous landscape, Dao Duy Tu's story is incomplete without mentioning Nang Mountain, shaped like a silkworm full of succulent silkworms facing the sea. Nang Mountain was where Dao Duy Tu was born and raised; and to commemorate his contributions and show their gratitude, the people renamed Nang Mountain Long Cuong Mountain. The Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi (Comprehensive Gazetteer of Dai Nam) records: "Our Duke Hoang Quoc Dao Duy Tu once built a house to study on this mountain, creating the Long Cuong section to express his aspirations; later, people named the mountain after him."

Eight years (1627-1634) to build his empire is a very short time in a person's life, but Dao Duy Tu achieved a monumental career that has earned the admiration of generations. He is remembered and revered by people everywhere, from Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Dak Lak... and Thanh Hoa.

Kieu Huyen

(This article uses material from the book "Cultural Figure Dao Duy Tu (1572-1634), compiled by Bui Thi Oanh and Hoang Khoi, Thanh Hoa Publishing House, 2024).

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/hoang-quoc-cong-dao-duy-tu-246037.htm